Rants Raves and Recommendations

Feb 1, 2017

What is wrong: People with disabilities are a low priority for government, especially at the Federal level. We are ignored in budgets, parliament discussions and campaign promises. Studies show women with disabilities are among the poorest and at risk for sexual exploitation, yet, money and resources go toward family violence. Single, middle-aged women with disabilities fall through the cracks. We are so poor and invisible, there is no real reason to live.
What is going right: Local community churches offer some help with volunteer services, such as, rides to doctor appointments or to the food bank. There are some Federal benefits that are helpful, such as, the Disability Savings Accounts, Disability Tax Credit, etc. These only help, if a person can work or find work, or has any money to live off to begin with. When you have nothing, no job, none of the incentives are helpful.
What I recommend: A fair living wage for persons with disabilities if they cannot work or find work. CPP or Provincial Disability amounts are not enough to provide basic essentials of life (food, shelter, medicine), let alone the actual reasons for living (the financial means to access transportation to participate in the community, choose recreation, visit family and friends, buy some new clothes, get a hair cut, see a movie, buy a card/gift for loved ones). We need to feel acknowledged and have dignity.

Feb 1, 2017

I am the Mother of a son with a spinal cord injury , yes , he can still walk, but not far, some days he can get his own meals, some days he says he can't or doesn't want to eat, he is on Hydromorphine and another med. for depression, a very nice person visited him three years ago to put him on a list for housing, we now get the magazine, and notes requesting donations , we have not seen or heard from any one else since. I'm not convinced he can take full care of all his needs , being on ODSP , he could not afford a car, so would have no way to get groceries, etc. I can still do most of that, and he lives with me, I am 81 in April, so my hope is that I stay healthy for a very long time . Like many in his condition, he smokes cigarettes, and says he can't quit, what is to become of him and those like him ? Signed, a very concerned mother .

Jan 30, 2017

Please make all existing buildings under federal jurisdiction welcoming and barrier free.
Please have the Government of Canada model outstanding employment practices so that employees reflect persons with a broad range of disabilities in the same % as represented in Canada's population.
Please allow family members to receive tax breaks to provide essential services to persons with disabilities.
Please provide point of purchase tax refunds/exemptions for supplies man equipment necessary to enhance independence for persons with disabilities.

Jan 30, 2017

Citizens living in remote communities are often ill informed of their options, including those that are in federal jurisdictions. Not only are they used to dealing with what they have, they frequently lack the education to comprehend the value of their input. Access to medical care and services is the biggest issue for rural Canadians. The strongest sentiment is that an Accessible Canada will have universal, updated and accessible health care and disability related supports that are not driven by provincial dollars.

Citizens in centralized locations are more concerned about barrier-free environments. I attribute this to the lack of personal resources to build what they need. Federal legislation needs to incorporate diversity and enforce a law that is relevant to private, commercial property owners as well as public lands. Federal dollars and enforcement must be made more available for the construction of environmental modifications.

Mental illness, chronic physical illness and disability related depression and anxiety are significant reasons for unemployment and failure to thrive in community. Prescription medications are required to manage both physical and mental pain. The demands of the workplace, and challenges by family and community members to comprehend how mental health impacts the capacity of the individual to cope/heal and contribute to others need to be off-set by early intervention, public education and wise counsel to potential employers and to employees.

Healthier options to drugs for pain management need to be supported by the workplace as well as through disability income supports. Support community rehabilitation centres.



Jan 20, 2017

hello my wife has a disability and i know many others who do as well. one thing that we have noticed is the inconsistency of accessibility, in places of public access and places of business. i have one solution that will make a difference. my idea is as follows, i believe that there should be a symbol or sticker for truly accessible areas. this symbol should be a beacon of hope for the disabled. it would let them have peace of mind knowing that going in to this place would not be frustrating and hard to get into and around in. i believe that these symbols should only be released to a business or public area once it has been approved by a person with a disability who will inspect this place. these inspectors should be hired by the government. these inspectors should go into a place that is looking to be considered accessible, and they should give the place a thorough inspection and recommend options to bring it up to the standards of the program. if this business brings its building or space to meet the standards of the program only then will it get this symbol of hope that i spoke of earlier.

i have found that going to hotels is so frustrating when they say that they are accessible but are no where near accessible. the government should make a new standard for minimum code of accessible bathrooms and hotel suites. the standards that exist now are so lax and any one can easily claim accessibility for their business when they are not. minimum code for handicapped areas need to be brought up to new heights. these symbols would make businesses look like they care about the community that supports them. this would make return customers of these accessible shops. this support from the government would help the people in this country feel like they belong. only once this happens will people with disabilities be able to feel comfortable in their own country. this would also make them get out more and be healthier.

Jan 11, 2017

In medical school, I had been taught that patients with disabilities often receive substandard healthcare because of barriers with respect to access. I did not fully understand how this could be possible until I experienced it myself after the accident and became wheelchair bound. There were many specialists that I could not see because the medical offices were not accessible (ie: stairs and no elevator) and so I needed to travel further to get the care I needed. Or, even if the medical office did not have stairs, the entrances did not have the automatic door buttons. Another example I came across were examination tables that did not move up or down making my transfer from the wheelchair to the exam table almost impossible. Now because I was living in that world, I understood what was taught to me in medical school. Proof that not everything can be learned in a text book. Sometimes you only learn things by truly living it.

Jan 11, 2017

I believe that all public line-ups should be given to all persons with disabilities in order to speed up the process such as banks, public offices, supermarkets like costco, walt-mart etc.
This issue is very important when persons like myself with muscle chronic pain and hemiplegia (semiparalysis) and lumbar back pain. This was caused by a brain anerysm in 1984 then I became disable since. there are many other issues that will be discussed at the meeting tomorrow and that's it for now



Dec 11, 2016

I have a 30 year old son who has a learning disability (Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome) however is, I believe and have been told high functioning. He is currently in a program that helps with skills in the community, drama and singing offered by Dramaworks and SingingWorks in Toronto and two Parks and Rec social programs in Toronto.

People like my son. He has many interests and knows many people. He can be very independent and responsible. A couple of months ago he told me there is nothing in his future for him. He will never have a paying job, a family, a car or house to name a few. Many of the things his peers have to look forward to and work to. "Mom, my life sucks." I can see he is frustrated, depressed and unhappy. He possibly now is suffering from what I am told could be age regression. How does a parent respond to this. I am a single Mom who is retired and a widow. His sister is married and lives out of province.

There are so few professional resources out there to help us. I am awaiting to hear from Surrey Place to see what help there is. Why should any young adult reach this? How can parents help these sons and daughters? Who is there to support us?!

I am smart enough to realize not all problems can be solved but there must be a way to help these individuals lead a productive life so the feel they are worthy and contributing to our country.

Dec 6, 2016

I think the Access and Inclusion Project is doing a great job reaching out to communities across the country to ensure people's voices are heard!

Nov 23, 2016

I recommend that the new federal accessibility legislation mandates that all existing infrastructure under federal jurisdiction and all built environment facilities that receive federal funding be required to be renovated in order to achieve a high standard of accessibility for people living with a broad range of disabilities in Canada. Further I recommend that a significant financial fund be made available to adapt all existing infrastructure by the end of 2027.